A former Savannah police officer caught in a high-profile case of alleged excessive force has admitted guilt to reduced charges, more than four years after the incident. Sgt. Octavio “Mike” Arango entered a plea deal, closing a chapter in a case that spotlighted issues of police misconduct and accountability.
🚨 Why It Matters: Police misconduct cases erode public trust and often involve years of legal battles. This case also highlights concerns about leadership and systemic issues within the Savannah Police Department.
👮 What Happened:
• In April 2020, Sgt. Arango and Officer Daniel Kang were involved in an incident while serving a warrant. Body camera footage showed excessive force against Darryle Faitele, who was not the subject of the warrant.
• Faitele was apprehended instead of his cousin, Khalil Kelley, the actual target of the warrant.
Key developments:
• 2020: Arango was fired after the police department and a civilian task force reviewed the footage.
• 2022: A grand jury indicted Arango for felony false imprisonment. Kang was not charged.
• 2023: Arango pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and received two years of probation.
🔍 Between the Lines: The officers’ actions raised broader concerns:
• Faitele alleges he was unlawfully arrested and assaulted.
• Body camera footage, reviewed but not released publicly, reportedly showed Arango hitting Faitele in the head.
• Arango’s legal defense maintained his actions were necessary for safety.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
